Media contact: David Perry / (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com

1st Annual Robin Williams Award For Excellence In Entertainment to honor Chris Columbus, Legendary Director, Producer & Writer

presented by Friends of the San Francisco Film Commission

Tribute Gala at Fairmont Hotel

Thursday, February 9, 2017

4 January 2017 – San Francisco, CA: The movie industry has been good to San Francisco, and the “City That Knows How” is anxious to return the favor by honoring one of cinema’s leading lights. On Thursday, February 9, 2017 from 6pm – 9pm at the Fairmont Hotel, the Friends of the San Francisco Film Commission (www.friendsoffilmsf.org) will present legendary writer, director and producer Chris Columbus with its inaugural Robin Williams Award for Excellence In Entertainment, acknowledging a career that has brought joy to millions, while also showcasing San Francisco’s iconic locations and talents to the world.

“As a Director, Producer and Writer Chris Columbus is the definition of a triple threat,” said Jim McCullough, Founding President of the nonprofit “Friends”. A former twelve-year member of the San Francisco Film Commission, McCullough founded the group in 2012 to support efforts to attract, retain and promote the film industry. “Whether taking us to Hogwarts Academy for Wizards or to San Francisco’s Pacific Heights with Mrs. Doubtfire, Chris is truly the best of what San Francisco has to offer the film industry.”
 
Columbus first came to international attention as a screenwriter with Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment, working on Gremlins (1984), The Goonies (1985) and Young Sherlock Holmes (1985). He wrote the first episodes of the animated series Galaxy High (1986) and later made his directorial debut with the teen comedy Adventures in Babysitting (1987) and Heartbreak Hotel (1988). His directorial work includes Home Alone (1990), Only the Lonely (1991), Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992), Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), Nine Months (1995), Stepmom (1998), Bicentennial Man (1999), Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001), Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002), Rent (2005), I Love You Beth Cooper (2009), Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010) and most recently Pixels (2015). He was the producer of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004), the third film in the Harry Potter film series, and received an Academy Award nomination for producing The Help (2011). Columbus founded his production company named 1492 Pictures in 1995. The character types preferred by Columbus are the everyday American men, women and children who struggle to uphold family traditions against a changing, sometimes intimidating society. In 1993 he said: “I can understand the validity of showing people the ugliness of the world, but I also think there is a place for movies to leave people with a sense of hope. If your film isn’t going to do that, I just don’t think it’s worth making.” Columbus created the House of Secrets book series with Ned Vizzini [10] and co-founded a new animation studio called ZAG Animation Studios with Saban Capital Group and ZAG Entertainment.
 
“When I was Mayor, I learned early on that the movie business is good for San Francisco; it creates paying jobs, brings in millions of dollars to the local economy and helps to promote San Francisco’s uniqueness,” notes “Friends” supporter Willie L. Brown Jr. Friends of The San Francisco Film Commission will help San Francisco attract film and television companies through grants to the commission. By financially supporting the S.F. Film Commission, San Francisco will be able to better compete with other more well-funded venues. Monies directed to the Film Commission will not only be used to promote and attract the entertainment business but could also be used to secure production offices, sound stage facilities and supply other needed incentives.”

“Aside from the obvious direct money spent to make movies in San Francisco, other areas that benefit include: employment, hotels, restaurants, rental cars, unions, rental equipment, tax revenue, etc. Long after a film is produced it still has residual impact, attracting tourists and continuing to inspire. Notable productions include: Mrs. Doubtfire, Vertigo, The Maltese Falcon, Streets of San Francisco, The Rock, Bullitt, and more recently San Andreas and Chance” notes McCullough.

Supporters of the nonprofit Friends of the San Francisco Film Commission include: Former Mayor L. Willie Brown, Jr., Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom, Charlotte Shultz (Honorary Advisor), Robin Williams (1951-2014), SAG-AFTRA, IATSE Local 16, San Francisco Hotel Council, the Golden Gate Restaurant Association, Mayor Edwin M. Lee, and many other local entertainment, business, union and community leaders.

Friends of the San Francisco Film Commission is an initiative of the San Francisco Center for Economic Development, a department of The San Francisco Chamber of Commerce Foundation a 501 (c) (3) California nonprofit public benefit corporation. Its goal is to help re-establish San Francisco as a viable filmmaking center.

Tickets for the February 9, 2017 Gala Event are $ 600 each, with tables of 10 available at $5,000 and $10,000 and may be purchased online at www.friendsoffilmsf.org.

Media Contact: DP&A, Inc. / David Perry cell: (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com

“Zero Tolerance for Public Drinking”

Campaign Reminds Revelers to Party Safely on New Year’s Eve 2016/17

San Francisco Police Stresses “Safe, Sane & Sober” Behavior on Saturday, December 31

23 December 2016 – San Francisco, CA: As in years past, thousands of revelers are expected to ring in the New Year throughout San Francisco on Saturday, December 31, 2016 and into the wee hours of Sunday, January 1, 2017. As was the case last year, San Francisco City officials are reminding partiers to keep it safe, sane and sober on City streets.

“For the last few years, we have instituted a policy aimed at taking individuals who were drinking in public or drunk in public off the streets. This year, we will continue to remove offending individuals from the streets,” said San Francisco Interim Police Chief Toney Chaplin. “We want everyone to have a good time, but we want to remind people of a simple fact: drinking in public is illegal. It only takes one drunk driver or one out of control individual to spoil the festivities for dozens of people.”

Chief Chaplin also stressed that there will be zero tolerance for open containers of alcohol.

While there is no official City sponsored celebration or street closures for New Year’s Eve, there is an annual fireworks display over San Francisco Bay for which many people line the sidewalks along the Embarcadero to observe at midnight.

“It’s a wonderful, celebratory evening but one in which people sometimes take their partying to the streets,” says Chief Chaplin, noting that over the years, New Year’s Eve has sometimes become an excuse for nuisance and even violent behavior. Just in case, Chaplin makes clear: the SFPD, including its alcohol control officers, will be out in force to ensure public safety. “This year – as in years past – we just want to remind people to keep it safe, sane and sober in San Francisco this New Year’s Eve. Spending the night in the SFPD drunk tank – or worse – is no way to celebrate.”

Media Contact: David Perry / (415) 767-1067 / news@davidperry.com

San Mateo County Event Center and Fair names Dana Stoehr new CEO

www.smeventcenter.com

20 December 2016 — San Mateo, CA: With an eye to raising the bar, the San Mateo County Event Center Board of Directors has unanimously named Dana Stoehr as the association’s new CEO.

“Dana understands that it is all about building and fostering relationships, her connections in sales and marketing, the venue and fair industry and our local community are unparalleled. We are delighted to have Dana lead the Association as the CEO. She brings a depth of experience to the position, and the Board’s unanimous decision reflects the outstanding skills she has demonstrated for the Association as Chief Operating Officer,” said Beverly Miller, President of the Board of the San Mateo County Event Center.

Stoehr has more than 25 years of extensive venue, fair, and event leadership experience, including working for the Solano and the Alameda county fairs.  She has produced events ranging from fairs to large-scale concerts, conferences and festivals and has a reputation for creative thinking and professionalism.

She joined the San Mateo Event Center in 2006 as assistant general manager and is a committed industry leader as shown by her service as the Region 7 Director for the International Association of Venue Managers.

“I love my career and cannot imagine a better job than bringing people together, creating events that provide lifelong memories. I look forward to leading the San Mateo County Event Center and Fair and creating a successful future with our board, staff, clients and key stakeholders.” said Stoehr.

Stoehr and her husband, Scott, have five children and four grandchildren and reside in the city of San Mateo.

The San Mateo County Event Center is The Peninsula’s premier event space and place to meet including the annual San Mateo County Fair (www.sanmateocountyfair.com), June 10 – 18, 2017. Visit www.smeventcenter.com often for regular updates.

Media Contact: DP&A, Inc. / David Perry (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com

Richmond Convention & Visitors Bureau Names Matthew Lewis as Executive Director

Bay Area Travel and Hospitality Professional Begins Duties February 1

  6 December 2016 — Richmond, CA: Matt Lewis, 49, has been named Executive Director of the Richmond Convention and Visitors Bureau (www.visitrichmondca.com) The Director of Global Sales for San Francisco’s iconic Nikko Hotel for the past 11 years, Lewis will begin his new duties February 1. The well-respected and widely known Bay Area hospitality industry professional has previously held positions with San Francisco Travel, Kimpton Hotels and the San Mateo County Convention Bureau. Originally from Westerville, Ohio, Lewis is a graduate of Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana.

“I am thrilled to be joining the Richmond Convention Bureau.  Thank you to the Search Committee and Board Members for their support and confidence,” said Lewis, who has made his home in San Pablo since 2009. “One of my favorite quotes is by Emerson and it is ‘Do not follow where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.’ I am looking forward to leading more people to experience the path of unique hospitality and beauty that is Richmond, literally at my back door.”
 
“Matthew is one of our own,” said Marsha Tomassi, outgoing Board President of the Richmond Convention and Visitors Bureau noting his East Bay home. “The combination of Matt’s deep experience with the hotel and travel industry and his knowledge of the area make him uniquely qualified to lead our tourism efforts.”

“The next few years will see Richmond more and more a travel destination for the Bay Area and beyond,” said incoming CVB Board President Rauly Butler of Mechanics Bank noting that the long-anticipated ferry service linking Richmond to San Francisco and the greater Bay Area is slated to begin in the next year. “Having Matt’s expertise and relationships onboard is a real boon.”

“Matt has a way of connecting with people that is a gift and is a true inspiration,” said Anna Marie Presutti, Vice President / General Manager of the Nikko Hotel. “His ability to bring people and businesses together for the greater good will prove to be a terrific benefit for the city of Richmond.”

The Richmond Convention and Visitors Bureau (RCVB) is a 501 c-6 not-for-profit trade association formed in 2004. It is funded by a Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID) and is one of over 70 Marketing Tourism Business Improvement Districts throughout the State of California. The mission of the RCVB is to create awareness of areas of Richmond that offer visitor related opportunities including lodging, shopping, dining, attractions, museums, historic preservation, recreation, festivals, events and meetings. The RCVB is dedicated to collaborating with other organizations that offer opportunities for tourism and visitors. The RCVB relays a positive message while encouraging visitation, increasing hotel stays, as well as direct and indirect spending on hospitality-related services.

media contact: David Perry / (415) 767-1067 / news@davidperry.com

San Francisco’s Cartoon Art Museum Honored as “Legacy Business”

www.cartoonart.org

Esteemed 32 Year Old Institution Receives Designation at November 28th Meeting

29 November 2016 – San Francisco, CA: What becomes a legend most? If you happen to be San Francisco’s Cartoon Art Museum (www.cartoonart.org), part of the answer is being recognized for your iconic nature as an official Legacy Business (http://sfosb.org/legacy-business) by the City’s Small Business Commission.

“The Business Legacy program has provided small businesses and organizations like ours the opportunity to endure the increasingly competitive commercial real estate climate, persevere and continue to flourish,” said Museum Executive Director Summerlea Kashar. “Funds from this program will be essential to a successful transition to our new location near Fisherman’s Wharf.”

The 30-year-old nonprofit institution — the first museum dedicated to the preservation and exhibition of cartoon art in all its forms in the western United States — just announced a 10-year lease in an historic building along the City’s tourist-rich northern waterfront. The site is currently in the midst of renovation and will reopen to the public in Spring 2017. This unique institution houses approximately 7,000 original pieces in its permanent collection and attracts more than 30,000 visitors annually.

Inspired by programs in cities such as Buenos Aires, Barcelona and London, the Legacy Business Program was instituted in 2015 by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and by San Francisco’s Small Business Commission. The designation denotes businesses and organizations that have made a significant impact on the history or culture of their neighborhood. Through the Legacy Business Historic Preservation Fund, Legacy Businesses on the registry may receive Business Assistance Grants while landlords who extend the leases of such businesses for at least 10 years may receive Rent Stabilization Grants.

The Cartoon Art Museum’s new location is at 781 Beach Street (just one block from Aquatic Park, the Maritime Museum, Ghirardelli Square, and the Hyde Street cable car turnaround). Housed in an historic 1912 brick building, it features a classic façade, prominent street presence, convenient parking, and easy access to and from public transportation. It offers highly visible public access to the museum’s nearly 8,000 square feet of space featuring galleries, screening area, workshop, classroom, bookstore, library and collections facility.

The Benton family, owners of the historic structure, are equally excited about the museum’s new home. A family representative noted, “We’re thrilled to have the Cartoon Art Museum as one of our new tenants. As owners in San Francisco for more than 50 years, it is great to be working with a non-profit that offers unique programming and exhibitions, as well as community outreach. We’re proud to be a part of keeping artistic culture alive in San Francisco.”

The Cartoon Art Museum has begun making improvements to the location, and plans to reopen to the public in the spring of 2017. During the transition, the museum will continue to host offsite events and work with partner organizations throughout the Bay Area.

Founded in 1984, the Cartoon Art Museum has something for everyone—from comic strips, superheroes and anime to political cartoons, graphic novels and underground comix. People of all ages can view original cartoon art at exhibitions and screenings, produce their own comics and animation at classes and workshops, research deeply into our collection and library, and mix and mingle with professional and aspiring cartoonists. The Museum’s mission is to ignite imaginations and foster the next generation of visual storytellers by celebrating the history of cartoon art, its role in society, and its universal appeal. The Museum’s vision is to be the premier destination to experience cartoon art in all its many forms from around the world, and a leader in providing insight into the process of creating it.

During the Museum’s past three decades, nearly 200 exhibitions have featured hundreds of artists from almost every continent and artistic style, including Mary Blair, Dan Clowes, Robert Crumb, Will Eisner, Phil Frank, Edward Gorey, Hayao Miyazaki, Spain Rodriguez, Charles Schulz, Ronald Searle, Dr. Seuss, Art Spiegelman, Garry Trudeau, Morrie Turner, Bill Watterson and many more.

The Museum’s unique permanent collection houses 7,000 pieces, including original Disney animation art from the collection of Mike Glad; historic comic strip art from Charles Schulz (Peanuts), Bill Watterson (Calvin & Hobbes), Bil Keane (Family Circus), Walt Kelly (Pogo), George Herriman (Krazy Kat) and Winsor McCay; political cartoons from Bill Mauldin and Lou Grant; comic book art from Bob Kane, Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, and many others.